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Trump to nominate career government official Lukas as No. 2 spy chief, source says Trump to nominate career government official Lukas as No. 2 spy chief, source says WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to nominate Aaron Lukas, a career government official, as deputy to newly confirmed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, a source familiar with the plan said. Gabbard, a former U.S. representative with little intelligence experience, was confirmed as the top U.S. spy last week in a 52 to 48 vote, mostly along party lines. Lukas, who worked as an intelligence aide to then acting Director of National Intelligence Ric Grenell in 2020 during Trump’s first term, would bring years of national security experience to the post of principal deputy director of national intelligence, a role that requires Senate confirmation. Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. The White House had no immediate comment. Lukas, who has been a foreign service officer for over 21 years, worked as senior director for Europe and Russia at the White House National Security Council in the final year of Trump’s first term. Before joining the foreign service, he worked at the Cato Institute, a Libertarian think tank. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) Source link #Trump #nominate #career #government #official #Lukas #spy #chief #source Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump order challenges independence of FCC, FTC and financial regulators – The Washington Post Trump order challenges independence of FCC, FTC and financial regulators – The Washington Post Trump order challenges independence of FCC, FTC and financial regulators The Washington PostTrump Tightens Grip On Bank, M&A Regulators in Latest Order BloombergFTC, SEC and other independent federal agencies must clear regulations by White House, Trump orders Fierce healthcareTrump Signs Order Expanding Power Over Independent Agencies Like FCC and SEC The New York Times Source link #Trump #order #challenges #independence #FCC #FTC #financial #regulators #Washington #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Welcome news for the RBA: Wages growth falls in line with inflation Welcome news for the RBA: Wages growth falls in line with inflation Australia’s wage growth has slowed in the December quarter, which while welcome news for the RBA, shows the peak in earnings growth might be over. Source link #news #RBA #Wages #growth #falls #line #inflation Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former Vice President Kamala Harris Signs With CAA Former Vice President Kamala Harris Signs With CAA Former Vice President Kamala Harris has signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) for representation in all areas, with a focus on speaking engagements and publishing, the agency announced on Tuesday. The agency will work closely with Harris on her post-White House initiatives, creating strategic opportunities that expand her platform in support of the issues she has championed throughout her decades-long career in public service. This marks a return to the agency for Harris, which previously represented the then-U.S. Senator prior to her being sworn in as the 49th Vice President of the United States – the first woman, the first ****** American and the first South Asian American to be elected to the position. She made history again as the first ****** woman and first South Asian woman nominated for president by a major political party. Harris is set to receive the Chairman’s Award at this weekend’s 56th NAACP Image Awards. The award goes to individuals who “excel in public service and leverage their unique platforms to ignite and drive meaningful change,” per the NAACP. Past honorees include Samuel L. Jackson, Tyler Perry, Amanda Gorman, Danny Glover, Maxine Waters, Ruby Dee and President Barack Obama when he was still a senator. “Vice President Kamala Harris is more than a leader — she is a force of change, driven by an unwavering passion to shape a brighter, more equitable future. It is with great honor that we present her with the Chairman’s Award at this year’s NAACP Image Awards, celebrating her relentless dedication to justice, equality and the betterment of our society,” NAACP National Board of Directors chair Leon W. Russell said in a statement. “Her legacy is built on courage, compassion and a profound commitment to uplifting those who need it most. Her tireless advocacy for the most vulnerable among us has made her a beacon of hope and progress.” The post Former Vice President Kamala Harris Signs With CAA appeared first on TheWrap. Source link #Vice #President #Kamala #Harris #Signs #CAA Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

U.S. pauses immigration applications for certain migrants welcomed under Biden U.S. pauses immigration applications for certain migrants welcomed under Biden The Trump administration has enacted a pause on all immigration applications filed by migrants from Latin America and Ukraine allowed into the U.S. under certain Biden-era programs, citing fraud and security concerns, according to two U.S. officials and an internal memo obtained by CBS News. The application freeze will remain in place indefinitely while government officials work to identify potential cases of fraud and enhance vetting procedures to mitigate concerns related to national security and public safety, according to the directive. The move, which had not been previously reported, threatens to cast a cloud of uncertainty over many migrants who were in the process of applying for various immigration benefits that would allow them to stay in the U.S. legally and, in some cases, permanently. While the exact number of affected migrants is unclear, the hold on applications applies to several Biden administration programs that allowed hundreds of thousands of foreigners to come to the U.S. legally through an immigration law known as parole. That law empowers the U.S. government to welcome foreigners quickly on humanitarian or public benefit grounds. The Biden administration used parole at an unprecedented scale, partially to encourage migrants to sign up for legal migration channels instead of crossing the southern border unlawfully. The Trump administration moved swiftly to suspend those efforts, arguing that they abused the parole authority. The Trump administration had previously halted new entries under Biden-era parole policies. But in a memo dated Feb. 14, Andrew Davidson, a top U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services official, ordered an agency-wide “administrative pause” on all “pending benefits requests” filed by migrants already allowed into the U.S. under three Biden administration programs. They include a policy, called Uniting for Ukraine, set up to offer a safe haven to those fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Roughly 240,000 Ukrainians with American sponsors arrived in the U.S. under that process before President Trump took office. Another affected program, known as CHNV, allowed 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans sponsored by American citizens to enter the U.S. The third impacted program consists of processes that permitted some Haitians and Cubans with American relatives to come to the U.S. to wait for a family-based green card to become available. Because those allowed into the U.S. under these programs were only given temporary work permits and deportation protections that typically last for two years, many of them applied for other immigration benefits, lawyers and experts said. Those benefits include a program known as Temporary Protected Status for migrants from crisis-stricken countries like Haiti, Ukraine and Venezuela; asylum, which allows those fleeing persecution to gain a permanent safe haven in the U.S.; and green cards, or permanent American residency. Because of a Cold War-era law, Cubans paroled into the U.S. are eligible to apply for green cards. But under the internal USCIS directive, officials will no longer be able to process any applications for these programs or any other benefit if the requests were filed by migrants who arrived in the U.S. under the targeted Biden administration policies. “This effectively freezes their ability to move into another legal status,” said Lynden Melded, who served as the top lawyer at USCIS during the administration of former President George W. Bush and now works as a partner at Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. “In the interim, they would remain susceptible to removal from the country if the government terminates their parole status.” The USCIS memo said the move is justified because “[c]urrently, fraud information and public safety or national security concerns are not being properly flagged in USCIS’ adjudicative systems.” The directive cites the Biden administration’s move last year to temporarily pause the parole initiative for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans due to fraud concerns. In his memo, Davidson referenced investigations that he said found thousands of CHNV applications with “serial sponsors,” information of deceased individuals or identical addresses. He said some of those cases were proven to be fraud. Davidson also said some migrants allowed into the U.S. under CHNV “were not fully vetted.” The pause, Davidson said in his memo, could potentially be lifted, but only once officials complete a “comprehensive review and evaluation of the in-country population of aliens who are or were paroled into the United States under these categorical parole programs.” Representatives for DHS did not respond to requests to comment on CBS News’ reporting. The Trump administration has targeted those who’ve come to the U.S. under the Biden-era immigration parole programs in other ways, too. Last month, officials authorized federal immigration agents to seek the deportation — including in an expedited fashion in some cases — of those permitted to enter the U.S. under the CHNV program and other Biden administration parole policies. The administration has also drafted plans to revoke the parole status of many of those who’ve come to the U.S. under CHNV. More Camilo Montoya-Galvez Camilo Montoya-Galvez is the immigration reporter at CBS News. Based in Washington, he covers immigration policy and politics. Source link #U.S #pauses #immigration #applications #migrants #welcomed #Biden Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Brazil's ex-President Bolsonaro charged in alleged coup plot – Reuters Canada Brazil's ex-President Bolsonaro charged in alleged coup plot – Reuters Canada Brazil’s ex-President Bolsonaro charged in alleged coup plot Reuters CanadaBrazil’s former President Bolsonaro charged over alleged coup that included a plan to poison Lula The Associated PressBrazil’s ex-president charged in coup plot, alleged plan to poison current leader FOX 29 PhiladelphiaBrazil charges Bolsonaro with leading plot to seize power, kill rivals The Washington PostJair Bolsonaro charged over alleged far-right coup plot to seize power in Brazil The Guardian Source link #Brazil039s #exPresident #Bolsonaro #charged #alleged #coup #plot #Reuters #Canada Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Updated Serbian resource rockets to 6.69m gold ounces for Strickland Updated Serbian resource rockets to 6.69m gold ounces for Strickland Strickland Metals has revealed a remarkable 23 per cent uplift in the mineral resource at its Rogozna gold and base metals project in Serbia, bringing the new total to an impressive 6.69 million equivalent ounces of gold. A big part of the increase has come from a maiden resource estimate at the company’s Medenovac prospect. Medenovac has proven to be a significant contributor to the project’s total portfolio with a polymetallic resource of 21 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.9 grams per tonne (g/t) for a total of 1.28m ounces of gold equivalent, including gold, copper, zinc, lead and silver. The deposit was only discovered in late 2020 after a discovery hole into the core returned an eye-popping 352.1-metre hit of continuous gold and base metals mineralisation. The intercept graded at an average of 2.1g/t gold equivalent, including a higher-grade interval of 97.7m grading 5.1g/t gold equivalent. Further drilling uncovered even more thick, high-grade mineralisation at the heart of the deposit leading to a maiden resource. The exploration cost of just $3 per discovery ounce of gold equivalent is an extraordinarily high return on exploration investment, even by global standards. Adding even more firepower to the resource’s growth potential, the deposit runs at a super-impressive 6800 gold-equivalent ounces per vertical metre at its core. Medenovac’s maiden resource was calculated by Perth-based Matrix Resource Consultants and has been designed around an optimised stoping model in the underground mining areas. It uses an assumed metallurgical recovery of 80pc, a long-term gold price of $2250 per ounce and a 1g/t gold equivalent cut-off grade. The mining plans include smart, near-horizontal underground access from a neighbouring ridge, which will improve the ease of extracting ore and the operation’s cost-effectiveness. Strickland Metals managing director Paul L’Herpiniere Delivering a maiden resource of almost 1.3m ounces gold equivalent for the Medenovac deposit, with an average grade of 1.9g/t gold equivalent further confirms the quality and scale of the Rogozna project. We also expect to move quickly towards a maiden MRE for Gradina in the second half of the year. Strickland is now gearing up for a monster 50,000m diamond core resource-wide drilling campaign that is set to kick off in early March using six rigs across multiple prospects. The company says it is excited about the potential for another high-grade discovery at Kotlovi, a nearby prospect 350m from Medenovac, where recent drill results have confirmed additional mineralisation. Beyond Medenovac, the next major resource update is expected next month for its cornerstone Shanac deposit, currently standing at 4.63m equivalent ounces of gold. Any further uplift to this resource could see Rogozna’s global inventory pushed past 7m equivalent ounces of gold, cementing its status as a world-class mining asset. Strickland Metals is still in rare financial health with $33.8 million in cash and Northern Star shares sitting in the bank as of the December quarter. The fortuitous position allows the company to maintain a generous budget to keep pumping out the exploration drilling metres that will drive resource expansion and feasibility studies. Strickland Metals appears to be positioning itself as a key player in the global mining sector. The company’s aggressive exploration strategy, combined with a high-grade, scalable resource base, could make 2025 a company-defining year. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: *****@*****.tld Source link #Updated #Serbian #resource #rockets #6.69m #gold #ounces #Strickland Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Updated look at Wednesday’s snow and ice forecast for Charlotte area Updated look at Wednesday’s snow and ice forecast for Charlotte area NORTH CAROLINA (PINPOINT WEATHER) — We are still tracking the threat of winter weather across the Carolinas for Wednesday. While this WILL NOT be a major winter storm for the area, it will still have impacts on travel, especially Wednesday evening into Thursday morning. We will start to see wintry precipitation move in Wednesday morning around 8-10 a.m. This will start as a wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet for the Charlotte metro, with snow north of Charlotte towards I-40. BE THE FIRST TO KNOW: Sign up here for QC News Alerts and get Severe Weather Updates sent straight to your inbox By Wednesday afternoon and evening, we will just be tracking scattered snow showers across the region. The wintry mix will decrease as the day goes on. Very light snowfall accumulations are expected for the Charlotte metro, with only a trace to an inch of snow likely. Spots along I-40 will experience 1-2″ of snow. While the mountains could see between 2-3″ of snow, possibly some isolated higher totals in the high country. There is the chance for a few more flurries Wednesday night into Thursday morning, which could lead to another coating of snow in a few areas. Ice accumulations are also expected to be light around Charlotte, with only a glaze to a tenth of an inch of ice possible. Even a glaze of ice could still cause issues on the roads, however, downed trees and power outages are not likely. While there will be a few slick spots throughout the day on Wednesday, the ******* impacts of traveling will come Wednesday evening into Thursday morning as we lose the heating influence from the sun. Download the Pinpoint Weather app today! iPhone and iPad users, CLICK HERE. Android users, CLICK HERE. By Thursday afternoon, expect dry conditions and plenty of sunshine. High temperatures will still be cold though, with mid to upper 30s. We will slowly warm up into the weekend, with plenty of Vitamin D to go around. Dry conditions into the weekend too! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Source link #Updated #Wednesdays #snow #ice #forecast #Charlotte #area Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Hospitalized Pope Francis has developed double pneumonia, ******** says – Axios Hospitalized Pope Francis has developed double pneumonia, ******** says – Axios Hospitalized Pope Francis has developed double pneumonia, ******** says AxiosPope Warned Confidants He May Not Survive Health Scare YahooPope’s complex clinical picture requires longer hospitalization ******** News – English Source link #Hospitalized #Pope #Francis #developed #double #pneumonia #******** #Axios Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Asian stocks stutter as Trump’s tariff vows weigh Asian stocks stutter as Trump’s tariff vows weigh Asian stocks have wavered after the S&P 500 and European shares ended at record highs, in the face of US President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats on auto, semiconductor and pharmaceutical imports. Since Trump’s inauguration four weeks ago, Trump has imposed a 10 per cent tariff on all imports from China, on top of existing levies. He has also announced, and delayed for a month, 25 per cent tariffs on goods from Mexico and non-energy imports from Canada. Trump told reporters on Tuesday that sectoral tariffs on pharmaceuticals and semiconductor chips would start at “25 per cent or higher, and it will go very substantially higher over the course of a year”. He intends to impose similar tariffs on autos as soon as April 2. Market reaction to Trump’s threats was muted as investors increasingly see them as bargaining tools, although the US dollar was on the front foot as geopolitical worries, including tense Russia-Ukraine negotiations, boosted safe-haven flows. “I think people are still trying to digest everything going on with not only tariffs and how that could impact things but also general valuations,” said Sandy Villere, portfolio manager at Villere & Co in New Orleans. “We feel like the market is pretty expensive.” “You’ve got not only the tariff situation, which I think is going to be more sabre-rattling and negotiating than anything long-term,” Villere said. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fell 0.29 per cent after touching a three-month high earlier in the session. ******** tech stocks have been on a tear recently after the emergence of AI startup DeepSeek and a meeting between Xi Jinping and business leaders in the sector lifted sentiment. “Green shoots are emerging in China’s economy and DeepSeek is injecting a shot of adrenaline into the sector,” said Thomas Rupf of VP Bank. “While trade risks persist, tech optimism remains strong as the prospect of low-cost AI applications drives a reassessment of growth potential.” Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell 0.3 per cent as investors pocketed some profits. The index has risen over 13 per cent so far in 2025, jostling with Germany’s DAX index for best-performing market in the world. The New Zealand dollar fell 0.35 per cent to $0.5684 after the country’s central bank flagged a steeper trajectory for future rate reductions following a 50 basis-point cut to 3.75 per cent on Wednesday. The latest easing was in line with expectations but the central bank is now forecasting the cash rate will drop to 3.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2025 and to 3.1 per cent by the end of 2025, lower than November’s expectations. The *********** dollar eased 0.11 per cent to $0.6347 a day after the central bank delivered its first rate cut since 2020, but cautioned about the prospects for further easing. Overnight, the US benchmark S&P 500 squeaked past its previous record closing high as all three Wall Street indexes seesawed between gains and losses for much of the session before rising in the closing minutes. European shares ended at a record high, with banking and defence stocks among the top gainers. The pan-European STOXX 600 index hit an all-time high of 557.96. European leaders vowed to step up support for Ukraine as the US and Russia held bilateral talks on the war this week. Investors also hope this weekend’s ******* election will lead to economic stimulus. Minutes from the US Fed’s January meeting, when the central bank held borrowing costs at 4.25 per cent to 4.5 per cent, are due later on Wednesday. That follows hawkish comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell in testimony to Congress last week and hot consumer price data. Brent crude oil rose 0.11 per cent to $75.92 a barrel as traders awaited the outcome of the US-Russia talks in Riyadh and speculated about potential supply increases if Washington agrees to abandon sanctions on Russian oil. Spot gold was little changed at $2,933 an ounce, stalking the record high it touched last week on safe-haven demand. Source link #Asian #stocks #stutter #Trumps #tariff #vows #weigh Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Former Ohio State player Ben Christman’s cause of death revealed Former Ohio State player Ben Christman’s cause of death revealed COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Former Ohio State offensive lineman Ben Christman’s cause of death was revealed in his obituary. The obituary, written on Hummel ******** Homes’ website, said Christman died in his sleep from natural causes. The 21-year-old from Akron died on Feb. 11, one day before his 22nd birthday, in Nevada at an off-campus residence near the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Ohio State, Minnesota show support for young gymnast battling brain tumor Advertisement Christman transferred to play at UNLV after being part of Kentucky’s football team for two seasons. He originally committed to play for the Buckeyes in 2021 but transferred to Kentucky in 2023. He played 12 games with the Wildcats in 2024 before moving to UNLV. His memorial service is scheduled for Friday morning at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Akron. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV. Source link #Ohio #State #player #Ben #Christmans #death #revealed Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Senate Confirms Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary – The New York Times Senate Confirms Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary – The New York Times Senate Confirms Howard Lutnick as Commerce Secretary The New York TimesCantwell votes against Lutnick for Commerce Secretary, criticizes tariff support KATUHoward Lutnick Taps Two Sons, Three Business Heads to Run Cantor BloombergHoward Lutnick, Haverford College’s largest donor, is confirmed as Trump’s secretary of commerce The Philadelphia Inquirer Source link #Senate #Confirms #Howard #Lutnick #Commerce #Secretary #York #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

KATINA CURTIS: Anthony Albanese’s Women’s Weekly interview clearest sign yet an election is about to be called KATINA CURTIS: Anthony Albanese’s Women’s Weekly interview clearest sign yet an election is about to be called It’s the morning after the interest rate cut politicians have been holding their breath for — and the Prime Minister is on radio talking about cup-a-soup. And coffee and baked salmon. His hometown newspaper splashed its front page with details of his wedding plans and the Women’s Weekly has fresh photos of Anthony Albanese and fiancee Jodie Haydon talking about their love. Combine this with the long-form podcast interviews where both Mr Abanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton are opening up about their personal lives. It’s like a great big cup of fabric softener being poured into the news cycle. With an election looming in the not-too-distant future, both leaders are aiming to reintroduce themselves to the public. If talking to the Betoota Advocate or diver-turned-podcaster Sam Fricker reshapes voters’ perceptions of the politicians as real people, all the better. On Wednesday morning, listeners of Western Sydney FM learned Mr Albanese’s favourite packet soup mix is chicken noodle and he likes a piccolo shot of coffee before question time. “Pop it on your wedding menu,” host Amanda Keller said. “Indeed. Cup-a-soup for the guests,” the Prime Minister replied. A Cairns radio host told the PM he’d cooked salmon for dinner last night and raised the controversy over the future of the Tasmanian salmon industry. Mr Albanese did get to the economic quadrella the Government is keen to talk up: inflation falling, interest rates cut, wages rising and strong employment. He backed this in with a chat in front of television cameras with homeowners James Declase and Louisa McSpedden — coincidentally constituents of his — about how much they would save on their mortgages after the RBA’s cut. “They bought here in 2021 so yesterday is the first time that they’ve seen a rate cut, and that will make an enormous difference to them,” he told reporters afterwards. He went on to declare Labor was the only party running for the next election with “serious policies”. “If you’re a serious political party, then you have to have serious policies,” he said, perhaps channelling Logan Roy. “Labor is the only political party that has a coherent economic, social and environmental policy in 2025.” Source link #KATINA #CURTIS #Anthony #Albaneses #Womens #Weekly #interview #clearest #sign #election #called Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Video captures rare ‘doomsday’ oarfish swimming near Mexico beach shore Video captures rare ‘doomsday’ oarfish swimming near Mexico beach shore Mexico beachgoers were treated to a rare sighting earlier this month of a shimmering oarfish, native to the deep sea and seen in Japanese folklore as a signal of impending doom. The “doomsday” fish was spotted alive at the nation’s Baja California Sur beach Feb. 9, according to AccuWeather and FOX affiliate KMSP-TV. Video shows the marine serpent swimming by the shore in the clear shallow waters while stubbed beachgoers surround it. When the fish stops moving someone proceeds to gently grabbed and moved toward the water. “What are you doing?” one witness asks the fish in the video. “That’s an oarfish. They’re almost never seen live,” another says. In 2024, there were at least three separate oarfish sightings in Southern California, including one in San Diego last August that marked the region’s first spotting in nearly 125 years. However, all three fish were found dead. Where were oarfish spotted in California last year? In August, a 12-foot-long dead oarfish was recovered by a group of “sciencey” kayakers and snorkelers swimming at La Jolla Cove in San Diego. In September, a second oarfish was found dead in Orange County’s Huntington Beach in September according to Ben Frable, an in-house fish expert for the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. On Nov. 6, a roughly 10-foot oarfish was found dead at a beach in Encinitas, around 25 miles north of San Diego, Frable confirmed. How are oarfish an omen of impending disaster? The sight of a “doomsday fish” in shallow waters serves as an omen of an impending earthquake dating back to 17th century Japan, according to travel outlet Atlas Obscura. Japanese folklore indicates the fish belonged to servants of the sea god Ryūjin. Hence the fish are also known as “ryugu no tsukai,” which translates to “messenger from the sea god’s palace.” It’s believed the oarfish were sent from the palace toward the surface to warn people of earthquakes. What do scientists say dead oarfish sightings mean? Scientists are unable to theorize the reason why three oarfish have washed ashore last year, saying that each specimen collected provides a unique opportunity to learn more about the species. Especially since there is more than one variable at play in the so-called “strandings” of the oarfish, including shifts in the climate patterns of El Niño and La Niña, Frable said in November. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Video shows rare ‘doomsday’ oarfish greeting Mexico beachgoers Source link #Video #captures #rare #doomsday #oarfish #swimming #Mexico #beach #shore Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

S&P 500 ekes out all-time closing high as Fed minutes eyed – Reuters S&P 500 ekes out all-time closing high as Fed minutes eyed – Reuters S&P 500 ekes out all-time closing high as Fed minutes eyed ReutersStock Market News, Feb. 18, 2025: Dow Ends Higher; Intel Shares Rally The Wall Street JournalStock Market Today: Stocks end at record high with peace talks, Walmart in focus TheStreetFutures Rise After S&P 500 Hits High; Two Earnings Losers Late Investor’s Business DailyStock market today: S&P 500 notches record close with late-session leap Yahoo Finance Source link #SampP #ekes #alltime #closing #high #Fed #minutes #eyed #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Divers discover Dutch submarine wreck K Xi off Rottnest Island missing since end of World War II Divers discover Dutch submarine wreck K Xi off Rottnest Island missing since end of World War II Deep-sea divers exploring waters around Rottnest Island have found the wreck of a Dutch submarine that rescued *********** sailors. Source link #Divers #discover #Dutch #submarine #wreck #Rottnest #Island #missing #World #War Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Brazil’s former President Bolsonaro charged over alleged coup plot Brazil’s former President Bolsonaro charged over alleged coup plot Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been charged by the country’s chief prosecutor with attempting a coup after he was defeated in the 2022 presidential election. The 69-year-old was handed five charges over the alleged bid to prevent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office after a bitter election race. The prosecutor’s advice will now be considered by the Supreme Court. If accepted, Bolsonaro and 33 others will be formally charged and will have to face trial. Bolsonaro denies wrongdoing and says he’s the victim of political persecution. He was banned from running for office for eight years after being accused of undermining Brazilian democracy by falsely claiming that electronic ballots used in the October 2022 poll were vulnerable to hacking and fraud. The bitterly fought election was won by an extremely narrow margin by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – known more commonly as Lula. Bolsonaro never publicly acknowledged his defeat and left Brazil for the US two days before Lula was sworn in as president. On 8 January 2023, his supporters stormed government buildings in the capital Brasilia. Parts of the buildings were ransacked and police arrested 1,500 of the rioters. Three months ago, the federal police released a report accusing Bolsonaro of playing a lead role in planning and organising an attempted coup – including by proposing the idea to key figures in the military – to stop Lula taking power. The document charging Bolsonaro says the responsibility for acts that were harmful to democratic order lies with a criminal organisation led by Bolsonaro himself. In practice, this means legal proceedings are beginning and Bolsonaro will likely face a trial. One of the charges is for the crime of “armed criminal organisation”, allegedly led by Bolsonaro and his vice-presidential candidate Walter Braga Netto. “Allied with other individuals, including civilians and military personnel, they attempted to prevent, in a coordinated manner, the result of the 2022 presidential elections from being fulfilled,” Attorney General Paulo Gonet Branco said in a statement. Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed government buildings in the capital Brasilia on 8 January 2023 [Getty Images] Brazilian media reports that the Supreme Court is expected to proceed with the trial later this year. Reaction to the prosecutor’s decision shows that the divisions that have marked Brazilian politics for the past decade remain as deep as ever. Government supporters are celebrating and saying the former president belongs in jail, while the opposition insist he’s innocent. The focus now is on the impact the Supreme Court decision will have on next year’s presidential election. Recent opinion polls show record levels of rejection for President Lula. Despite being banned from running for office, Bolsonaro remains a strong political force in Brazil and could use the trial as a platform for his agenda. Source link #Brazils #President #Bolsonaro #charged #alleged #coup #plot Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

KFC slammed over leaving Kentucky for Texas: ‘Disappointed by this decision’ – New York Post KFC slammed over leaving Kentucky for Texas: ‘Disappointed by this decision’ – New York Post KFC slammed over leaving Kentucky for Texas: ‘Disappointed by this decision’ New York Post KFC corporate to move 100 jobs out of Louisville, relocate its headquarters. What to know Courier JournalKFC moving US headquarters from Kentucky to Texas, citing better prospects for growth Fox BusinessKFC moves U.S. headquarters from Kentucky to Texas CNBCYum! Brands moves will mean relocation of some Louisville employees WAVE 3 Source link #KFC #slammed #leaving #Kentucky #Texas #Disappointed #decision #York #Post Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

AFL ‘comfortable’ with umpire’s role at betting company AFL ‘comfortable’ with umpire’s role at betting company AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has ticked off an umpire’s paid role as a horse racing analyst for a major betting company. Field umpire Nick Foot, who officiated last year’s grand final, will feature as an analyst on an online racing show run by Sportsbet, which is a major partner of the AFL. When asked about the look of an umpire working for a betting company, Dillon insisted the league was “comfortable” with how Foot managed his two roles, given his other job was in horse racing, not football. “Nick Foot is one of our best umpires, grand final umpire last year,” he said. “Our umpires are incredibly professional, elite decision makers. But they also, the majority of them, have work outside of the umpiring. “Nick’s worked in and around the racing industry for a number of years. We’ve worked very closely with him on how that plays out, and his extension of the role now. “There’s no crossover with his umpiring. It’s very clearly a racing role, and we’re comfortable with that. “But we’ll continue to work with Nick on that.” Dillon was asked whether he was comfortable with Foot’s role given a police investigation into suspicious betting activity in the 2022 Brownlow medal, regarding the leaking of voting outcomes in some specific matches, was still ongoing. Former field umpire Michael Pell was among four men arrested late in 2022 over alleged suspicious betting activity and was later sacked by the AFL. But Dillon was adamant the two situations couldn’t be compared. “They’re two completely different things,” he said. “So as I said, Nick’s been working in the racing industry for a number of years. “The other matter is outstanding but I don’t think there’s really a crossover and there’s not a crossover with what Nick’s doing in his employment outside of umpiring and his umpiring.” Dillon indicated Foot’s new role had been run past him and other key figures at the AFL. “Nick’s been working in and around the racing industry for a number of years, and I’ve been aware of that, as has the heads of football in the past, and the heads of umpiring,” he said. Dillon also made it clear there would be no changes to the Brownlow voting system, such as giving umpires access to statistics. “No, I think the umpires do an incredible job all round,” he said. “It’s a big thing that we ask of them with the Brownlow but I think the Brownlow’s tried and tested, and we’ve got no plans to change that.” Source link #AFL #comfortable #umpires #role #betting #company Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

LIVE: Georgia schools closing Wednesday in anticipation of snow LIVE: Georgia schools closing Wednesday in anticipation of snow The Brief There’s a winter weather advisory in effect for several counties in North Georgia from now until Thursday. The expected snow and falling temperatures could impact road conditions, especially during early morning and evening commutes. Georgia schools are already starting to announce closures and delays. Georgia school districts are starting to announce cancellations and delays for Wednesday as snow is expected in our area. RELATED: Chance of snow on Wednesday? Winter Weather Advisory for North Georgia Georgia school district closings, delays, digital learning days What we know Check the status of your district below. Click here to submit or check closings. Keep up with the latest by downloading the FREE FOX 5 Storm Team app and following @FOX5StormTeam on X TIPS TO PREPARE FOR WINTER WEATHER: The Source School closings are announced by district. The FOX 5 Storm Team, FOX Weather and the National Weather Service contributed to this report. Source link #LIVE #Georgia #schools #closing #Wednesday #anticipation #snow Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Native American activist Leonard Peltier released from Florida prison after 50 years – FOX 13 Tampa Native American activist Leonard Peltier released from Florida prison after 50 years – FOX 13 Tampa Native American activist Leonard Peltier released from Florida prison after 50 years FOX 13 TampaFar-left activist Leonard Peltier, serving life in murders of 2 FBI agents, leaves prison under Biden clemency Fox NewsLeonard Peltier home after nearly 50 years in prison Star Tribune Source link #Native #American #activist #Leonard #Peltier #released #Florida #prison #years #FOX #Tampa Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Board is backing me’: Chris Ellison casts doubt on cutting ties with Mineral Resources ‘Board is backing me’: Chris Ellison casts doubt on cutting ties with Mineral Resources Chris Ellison urged MinRes shareholders to move on from his various misdeeds and said the board is backing him ‘to move the business forward’, despite his flagged departure as boss. Source link #Board #backing #Chris #Ellison #casts #doubt #cutting #ties #Mineral #Resources Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Sell your Teslas, dump your stock’ — Tesla protests, Musk’s tanking popularity hit EV maker at bad time ‘Sell your Teslas, dump your stock’ — Tesla protests, Musk’s tanking popularity hit EV maker at bad time Elon Musk’s controversial role in the Trump administration appears to be dragging down the Tesla CEO’s image — and Tesla’s own brand — during a pivotal time for the EV industry. Over the weekend, hundreds of protesters demonstrated at Tesla (TSLA) dealerships across the country, as well as several international locations. Dubbed “Tesla Takedown” and “Tesla Takeover,” the protests were coordinated by groups like Anonymous on Bluesky (an x.com alternative). With signs like “Musk is stealing from you,” “Stop Musk’s Coup,” and “Tesla funds fascists,” protesters chanted outside Tesla showrooms from New York City’s Meatpacking District to Boston’s Boylston Street, and even Tesla’s hometown of Austin, Texas. “Sell your Teslas, dump your stock, join the picket lines,” shouted organizers at the Austin event. “Hurting Tesla is stopping Musk. Stopping Musk will help save lives and our democracy.” Musk, as head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has been behind massive layoffs of government employees. Many of these dismissals are the subject of lawsuits alleging DOGE and the White House acted illegally with the firings. NasdaqGS – Delayed Quote • USD At close: February 18 at 4:00:00 PM EST Recent surveys show that many voters disapprove of Musk’s actions. A Quinnipiac poll from late January found that voters oppose Musk playing a prominent role in the Trump administration by a 53% to 39% margin. “Elon Musk, a powerful and pivotal player in Trump’s inner circle, gets a shaky assessment from voters, with women clearly more critical of him than men,” said Quinnipiac University polling analyst Tim Malloy. According to a more recent poll conducted by the American EV Jobs Alliance, a bipartisan group examining EV adoption across the political spectrum, EV drivers gave Musk a 35% positive rating, with 42% giving him a negative rating. His standing among female respondents had a deeper split (34% favorable, 43% unfavorable). Musk going from “EV Jesus” to “MAGA god” is hurting Tesla’s brand image, said Mike Murphy, veteran GOP strategist and CEO of American EV Jobs Alliance, to Automotive News. “Musk has more of a MAGA identity than an electric car identity. He’s a nightmare for the Tesla chief marketing officer because he’s now in the way.” Case in point: The survey polled likely EV buyers about their brand perception. Among EV competitors Ford, Toyota, and VW, Tesla had the lowest favorable rating (63%) and highest unfavorable (37%). Story Continues Tesla’s diminished popularity comes at a time when federal EV tax credits could be cut under the Trump administration, meaning Tesla would have to compete on a more even ground with foreign automakers. The loss of EV tax credits would also push sales lower for the entire EV industry, of which Tesla is highly levered to given its all-EV product portfolio. Even Tesla employees fear Musk has damaged the company’s brand, as documented in a recent recording of a Tesla staff meeting obtained by the Washington Post. In another portion of the meeting, senior managers apparently indicated Tesla would be better off if Musk resigned. While Tesla’s official delivery report for the first quarter will come out in early April, Musk’s and Tesla’s sinking brand image is already hitting hard in certain regions. Germany reported only 1,277 new Tesla vehicles registered in January, down nearly 60% from the same month in 2024, on the heels of Musk’s courting of the country’s far-right AfD party. January sales fell 63% in France, 38% in Norway, and 12% in the ***. Oppenheimer analyst Colin Rusch said Musk’s foray into politics couldn’t come at a worse time. “We view Mr. Musk’s political activity and increased regionalization as a potential overhang on TSLA sell-through. We see the biggest risk in CA and the broader EU, where TSLA has seen ongoing declines since the start of 2023,” Rusch wrote last week, also highlighting softening January sales in China and the EU as a concern. Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on Twitter and on Instagram. Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Source link #Sell #Teslas #dump #stock #Tesla #protests #Musks #tanking #popularity #hit #maker #bad #time Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Pokémon Go Tour: Unova unveils new details ahead of the event Pokémon Go Tour: Unova unveils new details ahead of the event New music inspired by Pokémon ****** and White will feature during the event Choose between Reshiram and Zekrom in a new Special Research Keep an eye out for all the new avatar items The Pokémon Go Tour: Unova is almost here, and there are plenty of updates to check out before the event begins. From new music and avatar items to event-exclusive Special Research, there’s a lot to look forward to as you explore Unova’s Pokémon and battles. Pokémon Go’s Unova Tour will feature the world premiere of new music inspired by Pokémon ****** Version, Pokémon White Version, Pokémon ****** Version 2, and Pokémon White Version 2. Composed by Junichi Masuda, this soundtrack will play while you explore the map, battle in raids, and catch Pokémon. During the event, you’ll also make an important choice between Reshiram and Zekrom. A new Special Research story, It’s Not Over Yet, will let you pick between two event badges: ****** Version (Reshiram) or White Version (Zekrom). Your selection determines which rewards and bonuses you’ll receive. All Kyurem encountered after defeating ****** Kyurem or White Kyurem in five-star raids will know the Charged Attack Glaciate. If you’re attending the in-person events in New Taipei City or Los Angeles, you won’t need to choose a badge – every Kyurem encounter will automatically have this attack. There are also new avatar items to collect. You can earn the Go Tour 2025 Tee as the first reward in the free Tour Pass, while upgrading to Tour Pass Deluxe gives access to the Kyurem Helmet. The ****** Kyurem Wings and White Kyurem Backpack will be available in the shop, alongside the Shiny Meloetta Tee, which is part of the new Masterwork Research. Redeem these Pokémon Go codes to win some freebies! And if you’re looking to enhance your experience, the Road to Unova event add-ons offer additional rewards. The Raids add-on includes raid bonuses and the ****** and White Joggers, while the Hatch add-on comes with Egg bonuses, Pokémon encounters, and the ****** and White Hoodie. Both options include Timed Research with extra rewards. The Pokémon Go Tour: Unova begins on March 1st. Visit the Pokémon Go Web Store to stock up before it begins. Source link #Pokémon #Tour #Unova #unveils #details #ahead #event Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Should NBN 50 be the cheapest broadband speed tier? ACCAN certainly thinks so Should NBN 50 be the cheapest broadband speed tier? ACCAN certainly thinks so The *********** Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) is calling on NBN Co to scrap NBN 25, the company’s entry-level broadband speed tier, and replace it with faster NBN 50. In a submission to NBN Co’s 2025 Replacement Module Application, a routine paper that seeks to lay out proposals and changes over the next regulatory cycle (from FY26 to FY29), ACCAN gunned for 25Mbps connections, calling for a medium-term plan from NBN Co to upgrade NBN 25 to NBN 50. Noting that a minimum service level of 25/5 Mbps is mandated by the *********** Government as an obligation of the NBN across Australia, ACCAN wrote that it “does not consider 25/5 to be a fixed speed and recommends raising the NBN’s Entry-Level Offer to the 50/20 Mbps service”. “In ACCAN’s view, increasing internet speeds for consumers means raising the baseline quality of service that all *********** consumers can access. While there is certainly capacity for investing in faster internet speeds at the Gigabit level and above, ACCAN cautions NBN Co against pursuing this as a model for cost recovery, as most *********** consumers are unlikely to significantly increase their household expenditure on >2 Gbps speeds for the marginal benefit.” In NBN Co’s consultation paper, the company said that the 25Mbps speed continues to be exemplary as an entry-level option. Meanwhile, it remains committed to improving speeds and upgrading its network. In January, NBN Co announced that it wants the last homes serviced by fibre to the node to be upgraded to FTTP by 2030, and come September, 100Mbps max speed plans are set to offer maximum theoretical speeds of 500Mbps. At the same time, 2,000Mbps plans will become available, which ACCAN remains critical of, stating that sufficient justification for such fast plans has not been provided. These speeds are only achievable on the company’s full fibre, hence the upgrades. Should NBN 25 be replaced by NBN 50? At the time of writing, switching the fixed-line base speed from NBN 25 to NBN 50 would require a subtle adjustment to speed tier price controls. As the mandated entry-level speed, NBN 25 is enforceably much cheaper than other tiers, and may only increase in price every financial year “by the greater of the annual percentage change in CPI or up to 5%,” according to NBN Co. The entry-level option is set to become more strictly priced under the Special Access Undertaking, with costs unable to increase “by more than the percentage change in CPI each financial year.” Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. However, NBN Co has said that there are rules that go against making NBN 50 the cheapest offering. As laid out in NBN Co’s consultation paper, an entry-level offer must fit specific criteria: the service has been offered for more than 24 months, is reasonably considered by NBN Co to be NBN’s entry-level service and, has a maximum download speed that is lower than the most ordered speed tier group. As NBN 50 is the most popular speed tier in operation, NBN Co has outlined what this means quite succinctly: “The 50/20 Mbps speed tier group is the most ordered TC-4 speed tier group at the time of publication of this paper and is forecast to be the most ordered TC-4 speed tier group for FY25. This would mean an Entry Level Offer must be either the 12/1 Mbps or 25/5 Mbps speed tier on each of the nbn fixed-line and fixed wireless networks, as these are the only TC-4 speed tiers which have a maximum download speed less than 50 Mbps and will have been supplied for 24 months as at 1 July 2026.” Previously, NBN 12/5 was the entry-level offer, but it was grandfathered from this role in 2023 in recognition of growing competition and that it no longer sufficiently satisfied consumer demand. ACCAN believes that, in recognising that NBN Co wants to increase customers on NBN 100 to 65% by the end of FY2029, steps should be taken to upgrade the entry-level speed. “ACCAN is concerned that NBN Co’s current approach will entrench a two-tier digital divide among *********** households. We therefore recommend NBN Co reconsider its current approach to expand higher speeds for all service levels,” the advocacy organisation wrote. It’s good practice to keep an eye on your bills, and your spending on the NBN is no exception. Prices fluctuate constantly from provider to provider, and shifting from one RSP to another could save you hundreds in the long run. We’ve listed some of the cheapest NBN plans in Australia below, but you should use our handy tool if you want a greater range of choices. Source link #NBN #cheapest #broadband #speed #tier #ACCAN #certainly #thinks Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]